Seven Ejected as Pistons-Timberwolves Game Erupts in Wild Brawl

Minneapolis, MN - April 1, 2025 - A heated second quarter between the Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night devolved into a chaotic brawl, resulting in the ejection of seven individuals, including five players and two coaches. The melee, which spilled into the courtside seats, has cast a shadow over what was a pivotal late-season matchup for both playoff-hopeful teams.

Tensions had been simmering between the two squads in the opening minutes, with several physical plays and verbal exchanges. The boiling point was reached with 8:36 remaining in the second quarter. As Timberwolves forward Naz Reid drove to the basket, he was fouled by Pistons rookie Ron Holland II. Reid took exception to the foul, confronting Holland and pointing in his face.

Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo then intervened, stepping between the two and grabbing Holland's jersey. This escalated the situation rapidly, with Holland shoving back at DiVincenzo, and both players becoming entangled near the baseline. The skirmish quickly drew in other players from both teams, and the situation intensified, eventually spilling over into the front row of the stands, endangering fans and a cameraman.

As players from both benches rushed onto the court, the scene became increasingly unruly. Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and Timberwolves assistant coach Pablo Prigioni were seen exchanging heated words and had to be separated by team personnel, further highlighting the intensity of the moment.

After a lengthy review by the officials, the disciplinary hammer fell hard. For the Timberwolves, both Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo were ejected, along with assistant coach Pablo Prigioni. The Pistons lost Ron Holland II, veteran center Isaiah Stewart, guard Marcus Sasser, and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.

The ejections significantly impacted both teams. The Timberwolves, already battling for playoff positioning in the Western Conference, lost two key players in Reid and DiVincenzo, who provide crucial scoring and energy off the bench. The Pistons, fighting to secure a playoff spot in the East, were left without their head coach and three rotation players, including the often volatile Stewart.

While both coaches acknowledged the unfortunate nature of the incident, they also defended their players' actions in the heat of the moment. "Obviously things went too far," said Bickerstaff after the game. "But what you see is guys looking out for one another, guys trying to protect one another, guys trying to have each other's backs. Those are non-negotiables in our locker room."

Timberwolves¹ coach Chris Finch echoed the sentiment of a physical game reaching a breaking point. "I thought leading up to that the game was way too physical," Finch stated. "It's unfortunate, but we knew they were a super physical team. They hit you, they hold you, all the stuff that you want your physical teams to do. But I just thought it got to a point where players were going to take matters into their own hands. You don't ever want that."²

In the aftermath of the ejections, the Timberwolves managed to rally and secure a 123-104 victory over the Pistons. However, the win was overshadowed by the brawl, which is sure to result in further league sanctions, including fines and potential suspensions for the involved players and coaches.

The NBA is expected to review the incident thoroughly in the coming days and hand down additional punishments. This altercation serves as a stark reminder of the intense emotions that can boil over in the high-stakes environment of professional basketball, and the potential consequences for both teams involved as they navigate the crucial final stretch of the regular season.